United Arab Emirates, Israeli Companies Join Forces to Combat COVID-19

5 July, 2020   |   4 years ago

Jerusalem, 5 July, 2020 (TPS) -- Group 42, a technology company based in Abu Dhabi, announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries to explore collaborations in the research and development of effective solutions to combat the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Executives from each company took part in a signing ceremony held via video conference between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel on Thursday.

Peng Xiao, CEO of Group 42, said that “at G42, we embrace international cooperation as a way to develop new and innovative technological solutions for the public good.”

“The UAE has led by example in the global collaborative effort to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic, and our company is privileged to follow the lead and share resources and expertise with Rafael and IAI for such a significant cause,” he added.

“Extremely proud of the cooperation between leading Israeli and UAE companies in combating COVID-19,” tweeted Lior Haiat, spokesperson of Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ariel Karo, Rafael EVP for Marketing and Business Development lauded the ” historic collaboration that was born out of a global crisis. As a technological leader, particularly in the field of AI, we are proud to offer our range of capabilities and knowhow to help in the fight against the COVID-19.”

“This joint initiative brings together some of the most active players in the Covid-19 response in the region and aims to leverage their combined knowledge, human and technological assets, and other resources to accelerate the delivery of breakthrough solutions to safeguard the public health and support the global fight against the pandemic,” the companies said in a joint statement.

In the UAE, G42 is also trialing the world’s first phase III clinical trial of a COVID-19 inactivated vaccine, under the supervision of the Department of Health of Abu Dhabi.

Israel is willing to share its “extensive research and findings on various aspects of dealing with the Coronavirus challenges” with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Minister of Science and Technology Izhar Shai said as he invited the Arab country to join forces in combating the pandemic.

UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Mohammed Gargash, in a historic appearance by a senior Arab official before a Jewish organization, addressed the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Virtual Global Forum on Tuesday and said that while “the pandemic will not change the fundamentals of regional politics,” the experience of cooperation among nations dealing with the pandemic opens opportunities to de-escalate tensions and resolve conflicts through diplomacy.

The Israeli Ministry of Science and Technology “will be happy to share its extensive research and findings on various aspects of dealing with the Coronavirus challenges,” Izhar wrote.

Israel and the UAE do not have formal diplomatic relations.